Genome sequencing of Karelsulcia and its co-obligate endosymbionts in plant sap-feeding auchenorrhynchan insects

We performed metagenomic sequencing of endosymbionts from insects across different superfamilies of the Auchenorrhyncha, and assembled the genomes of their obligate symbiont Karelsulcia and its co-obligate endosymbionts. The aim of this work is to compare differences in the nutritional functions of symbionts among insects from different superfamilies, with a particular focus on Karelsulcia. Specifically, the ability of Karelsulcia to produce essential amino acids (EAAs) varies across major lineages of Auchenorrhyncha: for instance, Karelsulcia symbionts synthesize eight EAAs in cicadas, leafhoppers, and treehoppers; seven in spittlebugs; and only three in planthoppers, with the latter exhibiting the smallest genome size.